While massive violations of basic freedoms were reported already weeks before the summit of the G8 in St.Petersburg, Russia, today as the summit opened more protesters were arrested in Russia and we urgently need your international support.

As the summit opened, almost all demonstrations in the city were either outlawed, effectively prevented by the police or broken by force. Almost a dozen of activists were sentenced to short prison terms (7-10 days) ahead of summit, dozens more were detained by the police for several hours, interrogated, photographed and fingerprinted, prevented from coming to St.Petersburg, beaten and otherwise harassed by the cops and security services throughout the whole of Russia from Nakhodka in the far east to Kaliningrad on the Baltic sea.

As of July 13 at least 10 people were sentenced in St. Petersburg to 7-10 days of imprisonment on charges of hooliganism or participation in "illegal" street actions. Several criminal cases were opened or re-opened against people from different towns in an attempt to put pressure on them and prevent them from coming to St.Petersburg. Activists throughout the country were and are openly monitored by the police. At least 86 people were detained by the police while going to St.Petersburg by train and prevented from participating in the Russian Social Forum and other events in St.Petersburg, forced to return their tickets and come back to their home towns. Many more were talked to and "persuaded" not to go to St.Petersburg. Dozens were detained for several hours when arriving to the city, their personal belongings or even passports being illegally confiscated by the police. At least 9 illegal break ins and searches of flats were reported. These are just cases that became known to the legal team, which assists anti-G8 activists, and these include violations against different social activists ? from anarchists to communists to trade union, antimilitarist, environmental and human rights activists.

More arrests and detentions happened in St.Petersburg on July 14 and 15. About 30 people are reported to be arrested in St.Petersburg on July 15 alone.

City authorities and the police effectively prevented any serious street protests in St.Petersburg. Communists were allowed to have a small march and rally in the center of the city, but its less moderate youth part was beaten and taken to police station en masse. Some of the activists may be charged with violent behavior against police officers, which may lead to imprisonment.

Participants of the Russian Social Forum, which was held in St.Petersburg on July 13-15, were not allowed to have a march, although they asked the city hall about it weeks before. Police has blocked them at the Kirov stadium, where the forum was held, and prevented from taking to the streets of the city. About 150 activists held a rally behind closed gates, facing lines of riot police, which outnumbered the activists.

Any attempts to make street action in the city are likely to be met with fierce police repression and violence, but the summit is not over and more actions may follow.

Russian social activists are calling upon the world to protest massive violations of basic freedoms in Russia and ask for support to imprisoned activists. Various solidarity actions were and are being held throughout the world as part of the Global action days against the G8, but state repression in Russia should not go unnoticed. Solidarity is critical for people now held behind bars and probably awaiting serious criminal charges.

We are here for you, you are out there for us!

Protest violation of basic freedoms, state repression and of course the G8 at the nearest Russian embassy, consulate or other state offices in your country!

IMC-Russia international page with update information on protests and the situation of the arrested (English and other languages): http://int.ru.indymedia.org/

Global Day of Action Against the G8, Solidarity Shown with Protesters in St. Petersburg Worldwide

On
Thursday 13 and Friday 14 July, 2006, people took to the streets
worldwide to show solidarity with those facing repression in St.
Petersburg in the run up to this year`s G8 summit and to say that
„another world is possible!"

In
Stralsund, on Germany`s Baltic coast, 1,500 protesters took to the
streets on Thursday afternoon against President Bush and Chancellor
Merkel`s pre-G8 meeting in the town. Demanding an end to the war in
Iraq, that war plans against Iran are dropped, and expressing a clear
opposition to the G8, demonstrators were prevented from entering the
town centre by 15,000 police, especially drafted into the region for
the President's visit.

On
Friday, 70 took part in a spontaneously organised demonstration outside
the Rusian consulate in Berlin. Anti-capitalist and anti-fascist groups
are planning a larger demonstration tomorrow (Sunday 16 July),
beginning at Eberswalder Strasse U-Bahnhof at 2pm. (See: http://www.kapitalismus-abschalten.de.vu/)

In
Gothenberg, Sweden, the Anarcho-Syndicalist Youth Federation held a
demonstration in front of the Russian General Consulate, and „sticker
bombed" the building. (See: http://goteborg.suf.cc/)

In
London, protesters occupied the Russian Chamber of Commerce, hanging a
banner from the window demanding an end to repression and distributing
anti-capitalist flyers explaining their reasons for opposing the G8.
The demonstrators were violently evicted and two were arrested. (See: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345106.html - includes pictures)

In
Hamburg, 300 people took part in an anti-G8 Reclaim the Streets party,
taking to the streets of Hamburg with soundsystems to show their
support for protesters in Russia. Between 50 and 70 people were
detained. (See: http://de.indymedia.org/2006/07/152248.shtml - pictures included)

In
Cologne, a demonstration was held in front of the Russian consulate,
again in solidarity with protesters in Russia. They attempted to
highlight cooperation between Russia`s far right and the police forces.
They expressed support with Russian antifascists. (See: http://de.indymedia.org/2006/07/152246.shtml - pictures included)

Further actions were expected to take place in Washington DC, Manchester and Manila.

Adam
Jones of the „G8 2006 Info and Press Group" in Berlin explained,
„Hopefully the protests over the last few days show that whereever the
G8 meet there will be resistance, both at the meeting itself and
worldwide. Our thoughts and solidarity are with those arrested for
fighting for a better world - in St. Petersburg, London, Hamburg and
elsewhere. We demand their immediate release."

Network Against the G8 English info bulletin #2

This bulletin is prepared by some members of Moscow group of Network Against G8 (SPB8). It is result of common discussions in inter-regional meeting of 28th of May 2006 between St. Petersburg group of Network Against G8, St. Petersburg League of Anarchists, Punk Revival, FrontAIDS, Indymedia, Indyvideo, Legal-team, Medical group, AFA St. Petersburg and individual activists, but bulletin does not necessarily reflect opinions of all members of the network. We will publish new issues as soon as there is something to tell. Please distribute it widely!

Legal support

Legal team will be supported not by anarchists alone, but by efforts of Youth Human Rights Movement (MPD) and ecological organization "Groza" (Thunderstorm). A flat will be rented in St. Petersburg for legal group, and there will be a contact telephone in time of the events. 6 activists have already promised to volunteer, but a lawyer is also searched in order to make access to arrested more easily. Booklets on legal and practical information are prepared (you may read electronic English versions in SPB8 website). During June, there will be legal trainings for activists on legal questions in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Network Against G8 info-point in St, Petersburg

There will be an info-point by Network Against G8 activists in Kirov stadium, where Russian Social Forum will take place. Kirov stadium is located in metro station "Krestovskiy Ostrov"; it is about 10 minutes by feet through a park. It is easy to find, but we will publish a map in site later on. In Kirov stadium, you should find a room, tent or stand with text "NAG8". Stadium will be open for people from 12th to 16th of July. Whoever wants to come more early, should contact organizers in time. We hope that we will also manage to set up info-points that will work more early.

Accommodation during summit

There are a number of alternatives for accommodation during the summit.

Kirov stadium - if you want to stay there, bring your tents, mattresses and sleeping bags. Russian Social Forum (RSF) has promised some tents, but there is nothing we may say about their quantity and quality. Ascetics may live without tents, as in Stadium there are corridors under tribunes, where one is protected from a rain. Organizational committee of RSF has promised to organize field kitchens for affordable food in Stadium, as well as a list of cafes nearby. Stadium has electricity, toilets and showers.

St. Petersburg group of Network Against G8 has an alternative camping site in city area with a limited amount of spaces. You should contact group in case you are interested of this option.

You may also set up your own camp beyond city limits, as vast majority of the forests have not been enclosed yet and thus are public land where you have a right to stay with certain conditions. Locals may help you in setting up such a camp in case Network Against G8 site is full or you have some other reasons to have your own camp.

Local activists in St. Petersburg are prepared to help if you want to book a hotel, hostel or rent a flat for a few days (latter option is often cheaper than hotels for a bigger group of people). Cheapest places in hotels cost 350-600 rubles (10-19 euros) for a night, many places demand that you pay in prior. We may also provide a list of hotels, write to contact addresses in end of this bulletin.

Media-space

It is quite likely, that inside Stadium there will be a media space, accessible for everyone. But number of computers and access to internet and even telephone are still a question. There are other media-center projects, but these are unlikely to be open for everybody. Organizational committee of Social Forum in St. Petersburg promises to provide information about cheap internet cafes close to stadium and around the city, as well as other alternatives for people who want to do media.

General demonstration in St. Petersburg

General demonstration of "opposition" is planned to take place 15th of July. Route of demonstration is still under discussion (there are two alternatives - long march of 8 kilometers and short march of 3 kilometers). It will finish to a square next to cruiser Aurora. This is as close as it is possible to legally approach the city center, which according to authorities will be closed from demonstrations. To this demonstration, political parties (Communist Party of Russian Federation KPRF, Russian Workers Communist Party, Yabloko party) and "oppositional" political movements (such Union of Coordinatory Councils and various Komsomol organizations) are expected to take part. Committee of Russian Social Forum excluded participation of far right organizations and National Bolshevik Party, but it is possible that they may appear, as there are nationalists in St. Petersburg part of the Russian Social Forum organization, and KPRF was lately open to cooperation with far-right Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI). Anarchists are splinted on question of participation to this demonstration; one proposition is to organize an anarchist block which would strikingly differ from all the rest.

Outreach

It has been proposed that stickers should be the major way of outreaching to the public, as they are safer than putting up posters or painting with stencils. However one poster is currently being printed and others are currently being made. There are few alternatives for stickers. Besides these, a special issue of journal "Avtonom" is currently being prepared, as well as a booklet of guidelines for activists. Currently main site is www.spb8.net. Site nog8.ru is currently not developed, but you may find half of the Russian translation of the book "We are everywhere" there.

Street medics

Street medic group organized a number of meetings and trainings for activists, and also prepared a text of guidelines for giving first aid. It is planned that trainings will continue.

Libertarian forum in Moscow, 8th-12th of July

A preliminary program of libertarian forum is ready, currently we expect some 70 activists from various regions of Russia to take part, 30-50 from Moscow and few dozen foreigners. Both forum premises and accommodation will be in Moscow region close to Moscow. Take sleeping bags and mattresses with you. We may also book hotels, cheapest places are 600 rubles (24$) a night. Food not Bombs has promised to feed the conference; we will also prepare a list of affordable cafes. There will not be fixed price for participation, we suggest that people will contribute to costs of the event according to their capacities. Unless you have an agreement with organizers to pick you up from somewhere, you should come to office of Movement for Human Rights (Dvizhenie za Prava Cheloveka), located to Maliy Kislovskiy pereulok, dom (house) 7, stroenie (building) 1, metro station Arbatskaya. A map to find the location will be available later on. From here, you will be directed to premises of the forum and accommodation. We will wait you here 7th and 8th of July from noon to 8 PM. In case you are coming earlier, contact organizers by e-mail or by phone. 12th of July we have planned a press-conference of participators of the conference - main theme will be critic against energy policies of G8 summit and renaissance of atomic energy. We are discussing an alternative to travel collectively to St. Petersburg with a rented bus. Contacts: moscow_protiv_g8riseup.net.

Russian Social Forum in St. Petersburg 13th-15th of July

27th of May there was a meeting of organizational committee of RSF, which witnessed a number of disagreements among the organizers on important questions, such as on cooperation with parties and nationalists. St. Petersburg part of the organizational committee includes several coalitions, which include parties and nationalist activists, and many "leftists" may not imagine their activities outside party coalition. Thus a compromise decision was made, where forum will take place without political parties, and demonstration in 15th of July - together with political parties. Nationalist organizations will be excluded from forum and demonstration, but it is possible that some of them will show up anyway as individuals. Forum will include at least sections on housing, energy, health care and civil rights, and one is free to propose additional themes. One may find more information about Russian Social Forum from http://ikd.ru/Campaign/RSF

Calendar of events

8th - 12th of July
Libertarian Forum in Moscow

13-15th of July 2006
Russian Social Forum in St. Petersburg. It will take place in Kirov stadium close to metro station "Krestovskiy Ostrov". In forum there will be an alternative space.

14th of July 2006 - Global Day of Action

In many cities of the world there will be protests against neo-liberal politics of the G8. Those who may not come to St. Petersburg, may organize solidarity actions in their cities and villages.

15th - 17th of July
Summit of G8 in St. Petersburg

15th of July - International Day of Direct Action against Climate Change and the G8
Rise up against G8 policies, target fossil fuel industries in your community and bioregion!

15th of July
Common demonstration of left and opposition against politics of the G8 in St. Petersburg. March will end to a square in front of cruiser Aurora.

16th of July - Global Day of Actions against nuclear power. 16th of July 1945 USA first tested nuclear bomb in Trinity testing site of New Mexico. Reclaim the Commons - network calls to protest 16th of July against building new nuclear reactors and against development of the nuclear energy.

Network Against the G8 (English) info bulletin #1

This
is first issue of open information bulletin, goals of which is to erase
information gap that currently exists on state of preparations of
protest against G8 14-17th of July 2006 in St. Petersburg of Russia.
This bulletin is prepared by some members of Moscow group of Network
Against G8 (SPB8) and does not necessarily reflect opinions of all
members of the network. We will publish new issues as soon as there is
something to tell.
Please distribute widely!

Tens of thousands are expected to take part in demonstrations against the
2005 G8 Summit. Providing food, accommodation and support for the
convergence is likely to cost thousands. Please donate
generously. Click hereto donate via paypal or visit our donations page for other payment methods or to help fundraise